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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Esk become the University building?

2. What flows gently rather than appearing dramatically as on spherical planets?

3. Who is the Head Librarian that Esk bribes with bananas?

4. Who are the city people that are friendly and have guests every night that Esk notices?

5. What is a beacon to Shadow creatures who hate those who are alive?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Esk ask the man who is counting tobacco and what does he tell her?

2. How does Granny enter the University and what does she find?

3. What happens when Treatle's caravan arrives?

4. What does Esk say that Cutangle finds fascinating and unprecedented but against the lore?

5. Who is in charge of the laundry operations and where does this person live?

6. What happens to Esk when she becomes the mind of the stones of the University?

7. When Esk fights with the Things, what does she realize about their bodies?

8. When Granny enters the Great Hall and approaches Cutangle, what does he do?

9. How is the wizard apprentice process different in Esk and Simon's time from previously?

10. What happens to students who fail to become wizards?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the discussion about witches that appears throughout the book. What is a witch according to Granny? What is a witch according to Cutangle? How does this definition change with the arrival of Esk? What are witches traditionally associated with?

Essay Topic 2

Consider the use of the title ""Equal Rites"." What does this signify? Is it appropriate? What does this pun imply? In the story, what descriptions and connections are made on the words "equal" and "rites" and how does it relate to the principal character of Esk? How does your understanding of the title change when it becomes apparent that "Equal Rites" is a pun on the phrase "Equal Rights?" Explain.

Essay Topic 3

What is the significance of taking an ethereal journey versus just a physical one? How does this affect Esk?

Part 1) What is the difference in the journeys of Esk compared to those of Simon?

Part 2) Describe Esk's experience on her second trip and how it varies greatly from her first Becoming. What fears has she conquered?

Part 3) Does Esk or Simon gain more knowledge and understanding from their journeys? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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